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Senior Consultant Surgeon | Minimally Invasive Techniques | Medisave & Insurance Claimable
Dr. Kan Yuk Man – senior consultant surgeon, offers safe, minimally invasive gallbladder removal (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) with smaller scars, and minimal downtime.
Dr Kan is a Senior Gallstone Surgeon with over 25 years of experience treating gallbladder and gallstone related issues through minimally invasive keyhole surgery.
He is the Director and Founder of KYM Surgery , a specialist clinic in Singapore dedicated to the full spectrum of Upper GI, bariatric, cancer and gallbladder conditions—reflecting the breadth of his surgical expertise.
Dr Kan was trained in the UK, where he developed the skills to manage both simple and complex gallbladder surgeries. In addition, he is highly proficient in liver and pancreas surgeries.
Dr Kan is a senior gallstones surgeon who has developed an expertise in minimally invasive/keyhole surgery (MIS) for the management of gall stones.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for gallbladder can provide relief from gallstone symptoms with fewer risks and shorter recovery times than traditional surgery.
Dr Kan is internationally trained in the surgical treatment of gallstone/gallbladder.
Conveniently located at Mount Elizabeth Orchard and Farrer Park Hospital, we have access to a comprehensive suite of facilities that allows for the smooth treatment and recovery from gallstones.
Gallbladder surgery is claimable under Integrated Shield Plans and corporate insurance, Our team assists with insurance checks and pre-authorisation so you get clarity on coverage before your procedure.
info@kymsurgery.com
+65 6443 3133
Not all gallstones require an operation — but persistent pain, recurring attacks or complications may signal that it’s time to consider surgery.
KYM Surgery provides clear assessment and minimally invasive options to help relieve your symptoms. Our senior consultant will guide you on whether surgery is necessary — or if monitoring is enough for now.
We understand that every patient is different and that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment option. We therefore have a customised and personalised approach to treating gallstone, and some of these treatments include:
We may prescribe medications to dissolve gallstones. Medications you take by mouth may help to dissolve gallstones but it may take months or years of treatment to dissolve your gallstones in this way, and gallstones will likely form again if treatment is stopped.
This is why sometimes medications don’t work and isn’t recommended. Medications for gallstones are not commonly used and are reserved for people who can’t undergo surgery.
You don’t need your gallbladder to live, and gallbladder removal doesn’t affect your ability to digest food. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder, since gallstones frequently recur.
Once your gallbladder is removed, bile flows directly from your liver into your small intestine, rather than being stored in your gallbladder.
Techniques for Gallbladder Surgery Include:
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It may be found incidentally during test for other problems or conditions and in these cases the gall stones are asymptomatic and causing no problems.
You may be experiencing the symptoms from them and the doctor will typically start off with a physical examination that includes checking your eyes and skin for any visible changes in colour.
Further tests such as Ultrasound, CT Scan, Gallbladder Radionuclide Scan, Blood Test, or an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can help detect the presence of any gallstones.
If unsure, consult an experienced Surgeon in Singapore like Dr Kan Yuk Man for a thorough examination!
Your doctor may recommend surgery if:
Gallstones themselves are not dangerous, and in fact, most patients that have gallstones, don’t experience any pain. Rather, pain occurs when the gallstones block the movement of bile from the gallbladder (Biliary Colic) and tends to happen after eating a fatty meal. When this happens, there maybe be severe pain which may resolve after a short period of time or it can be persistent, resulting in an admission to the hospital for strong pain killers.
It can cause inflammation and infection in the gallbladder. You will experience pain in the upper part of your stomach and fever. This is known as acute cholecystitis, which is dangerous and considered an emergency.
The stones can drop out the gall bladder into the duct that leads to the bowel and will cause a blockage to the flow of the bile. This can result in Jaundice or inflammation of the pancreas (Pancreatitis). Both of which are an emergency. Too much bilirubin in your body can cause jaundice, which is a yellowish tint in your eyes or on your skin. Your stools will become very pale and your urine will become very dark in colour.
In some cases, the infection can be so severe that the gall bladder become filled with pus (Gallbladder Emypema) or the lining of the gall bladder dies off and becomes necrotic. You will become extremely ill with this.
If you have no symptoms and it is found incidentally, then it is quite safe to leave the gall stones alone.
If you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you should seek advice from Dr Kan right away. Delayed treatment can lead to complications such as:
Most patients with gallstone symptoms will need surgery. Surgery will involve the removal your entire gallbladder (cholecystectomy) rather than just removing the stones as they can re-occur if you do not remove the gall bladder leading to more problems.
Techniques to remove the gallbladder include:
Unsure if you’re suffering from gallstones? Consult Dr Kan immediately to ensure a peace of mind!
Removing gallstones usually means removing the gallbladder through laparoscopic surgery. It is considered a routine, minimally invasive procedure rather than a major open operation, with small incisions and faster recovery.
Yes—if gallstones cause pain, infections, or complications, removing the gallbladder is the most effective and permanent treatment. It prevents symptoms from coming back.
During surgery you won’t feel pain due to anaesthesia. Afterwards, most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort that typically improves within a few days.
There is no specific size that determines surgery. Treatment depends on symptoms and complications. Even small stones can trigger severe pain, while large stones may be riskier for blockage.
Non-surgical methods like medications exist, but they rarely work and are suitable only for very limited cases. Most symptomatic gallstones require surgery for lasting relief.
Most people return to normal activities in 1–2 weeks. Full internal recovery may take about 4–6 weeks, depending on individual healing.
Bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine. Most people digest food normally, though some may experience temporary bloating or loose stools.
Initially, avoid greasy, fried, oily, creamy, and very spicy foods. Gradually reintroduce them once digestion stabilises. Smaller, more frequent meals may help.
For most people, life is normal with no long-term restrictions. Some may experience mild digestive changes early on, but these usually settle within a few weeks.
